Player Tips – Adding more Class to your Class – Sorcerer

April 15, 2016

Greetings and Happy Friday. Today we will delve deep into the Sorcerer class. Last week we did a player tips, adding more class to your class with the Rogue. If you missed it you can read that article here.

So first we look at the sorcerer and see what it really means to be one. A sorcerer is one who is blessed with magical power. It is something they are born with. A warlock makes a pact with a being of significant power. A wizard studies and learn with a tedious amount or work and memorization. A sorcerer just is magic.

That statement means several things. One we have to look at the origination of that power. As of now we only have chaos and dragons in the Players handbook and the storm from an unearthed arcana as sources of where this power comes from.

Second you also need to ask about how the character copes with this ability and how it came to their knowledge and understanding. As a sorcerer and the ability to command magic at your literal beck and call, how much control on your emotions do you have? Did those powers come out at a reasonable time or at the worst possible time. Were you convicted of a crime because of your power or did you become a hero because of it?

So when we look at those origins short of being dragonborn none of those are normal races that can explain why you have those powers. Were you born or conceived under some celestial event or in a place of power? Are you prophisized to do some great deed for good or ill? Is your power a true mystery? Do you want to figure it out or have you come to terms with it?

Now unlike most classes where time and dedication to a craft is required to be trained a sorcerer is born and might need only a little bit of time to get control and understanding of their spells and powers. But after that you typically have much more play time to work out as a back story. Did you travel and encounter lots of different people, or were you stuck at home working on a farm?

Chaos Origin – If you are playing a Chaos Sorcerer I would look at how you want to flavor your character. Is he chaotic himself or chaos happen around him and he is battling against it. Is he trying to bring order to that that flows within himself.

Dracnoic blood line – If you possess the power of dragons, what is your connection to them? Was some deal struck with your family are you the random happenstance of a powerful dragon living in your area? With what dragon are you aligned? How does it effect you? Does it make you more like itself or are you the opposite? Are you interested in dragons, do you seek them out? Do you hunt them, trying to gain more of their power? Are you just not interested in them as you feel you are one, or as like as you can be in this bipedal form.

Storm Sorcerer – Born of lightning and air do the indoors bother you. Are you claustrophobic? Do you feel the need to run and be free? As lightning do you feel drawn to something? What is the attraction? Why do you have a special connection to the plane of Air? Does your character know, do you seek it?

Player Tips – Adding More Class to Your Class – Backgrounds

This extra time that you can play with you have the ability to either spend more time doing the background thing or spend time doing something else to explain the sorcerer skills that you have picked up.

So as a sorcerer you tend to be charismatic and people either love you or hate you. It is hard to fall in between. Since your power literally comes from an external force and technically within your training is minimal as stated above. So because of that your origin story or background can be from any walk of life.

Acolyte – As a Sorcerer, divinity can always be called into question. You are born with magic. Perhaps you have studied to see the difference between what you are and what the gods are. You can go in several directions here. Do you have a superiority complex or do you doubt your own powers and suffer from lack of confidence.

Charlatan – You have always been a people person. Attractive and well liked. It fits well that you use people to get the things you want. You can go in different directions here as well. Was this your past and something happened that you want to make up for and are striving to be a good person. Or are you always looking out for number one and the peons beneath your feet are nothing more than the stepping stones on your path to greatness?

Criminal – You possess power and people in power like to exploit others. Were you hard off and others took advantage of your power and used you for their own gains until you could control it? Now that you have the power under control are you looking for a promotion within the organization or are you looking for an out?

Entertainer – The crowds love you. You are a joy to watch and are always entertaining. But with your magical awakening did catastrophe happen or was it a glorious addition to your performance? Are you now on the run out of fear or because people want to see it again?

Folk Hero – Folk heroes either have done something incredibly helpful or people believe that they are destined to do so. What was it that you did to get this hero status? Did your magical awakening happen at that time or did it happen later? Do you believe that your powers were a gift because you did something so useful? Did your powers manifest and kill a bad person in your town? Are you now afraid of your powers and try to squash them.

Guild Artisan – As a craftsman and a sorcerer do your powers compliment your skills or are they diametric opposites? How do your fellow guild members feel about your magical powers? Have your abilities drowned out any inspiration or desire to make things anymore or have they filled you with new possibilities and desires?

Hermit – Being a hermit is a challenge for one that can be seen as a leader and friend to so many. Being a sorcerer you are likely to be both. Did you flee to solitude because your magical awakening caused too many people wanting to associate with you. Was their attention just too much? As another side was your first experience with your powers to traumatic that you fled until you could get a hold of your powers?

Noble – As a noble you have access to all the areas that the lowly folk do not but certain things are expected of you as well. How has becoming a sorcerer impacted your family? Was it good or bad for them? For you? Are you cast out or held in high esteem? Are there whispers behind your back that are just loud enough to hear? Should you have been a respectable wizard instead?

Outlander – The wilderness appeals to certain people. It could be because of an event in your past or because of certain people. Or is it for another reason? Does the wild call to you. Is there something out there that you are trying to find?

Sage – The magical world holds many secrets. Did your desire to know more about magic lead to the discovery of your powers? Were you an apprentice and, comically, you wished that you could just do magic and you made it happen? How upset were your masters when you could do things that you should not have been able to do? Instead of that did you already discover your powers and you sought to understand them, only to find out that what you could do did not always line up with what was being taught.

Sailor – As a sailor, being born on the waves, perhaps you were destined for great things. Can you call the winds and speed your ship along so you were kept around. Perhaps your presence always met with strong winds in the right direction. Or is it the opposite? Are you a good or bad omen leaving port were you come from.

Soldier – You trained in the art of war. How much exposure do you have? Have you been in a real fight or have you been spared that turmoil? Did your powers come out before during or after your training? How did it help or hurt you?

Urchin – You remember being cold and hungry. Wet and tired having no place to call your home. Did people help you or kick mud in your face when you asked for food? How did the people act around you after you found out you had power? Was it fear or respect? How do you now look at those who are still in that position?

So there you have it. Another player tips. Ask your self did we add more class to your class? Are you more and better prepared to play a sorcerer? Have I inspired a new character concept and story for that new character you want to play?

As always thanks for reading, and Until Next Time, Stay Nerdy!